Secondary Battery with Autolytic Dendrites

A battery (100) comprises a cell having a cathode compartment (120) that includes an element that is oxidized during charging of the battery (100), wherein the oxidized element forms a salt with an acid and thereby increases the H+ concentration in the cathode compartment (120) sufficient to promote an H+ flux into the anode compartment (110) across the separator (130), wherein the H+ flux across the separator (130) is sufficient to disintegrate a zinc dendrite proximal to the separator (130).